OLD MUNKIhttp://oldmunki.com
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Diet, Fitness, Health and WellbeingTue, 30 Jan 2018 13:22:53 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.965282342Beating your frustration with BJJhttp://oldmunki.com/beating-frustration-bjj/
http://oldmunki.com/beating-frustration-bjj/#respondTue, 30 Jan 2018 13:22:53 +0000http://oldmunki.com/?p=2319If you are like me your love of training will have ups and downs. When you hit one of the downs what can you do about beating your frustration with BJJ? Here are my top 5 ways for dealing with frustration in your BJJ journey. Beating your frustration with BJJ There can be loads… Read more

]]>If you are like me your love of training will have ups and downs. When you hit one of the downs what can you do about beating your frustration with BJJ? Here are my top 5 ways for dealing with frustration in your BJJ journey.

Beating your frustration with BJJ

There can be loads of things that could trigger a down time. It could be a week of feeling like nothing is working for you. Real life limiting your training. Maybe the worst of all suffering a training injury that affects your mat time. You then question your ability, or even the point of training. When this resentment hits can feel like a big block that you just can’t over come. No matter how focussed or positive you try and stay, frustration can make its way into your mind. This just makes it all seem worst.

Why do I get frustrated anyway?

The ironic thing is this happens because you enjoy training so much. Simply because you want to get better so much, these small set backs affect you so much. In psychology terms, frustration is how we emotionally react to opposition. So something stopping us doing what we want to causes us frustration. This wouldn’t be too bad if we could deal with the hiccup quickly. But if we can’t sort everything out quickly, that’s when we start thinking the issue is massive. Combine that with how much you want to hit the mats. You then have the foundations for building frustration.

Celebrate and remember the “small” wins!
You don’t have to win every battle, but noticing and valuing each small win is a great way to keep frustration at bay. Mrs Munki and I have discussions about small wins all the time. It allows up to remind each other that there is progress happening, even though sometimes it is hard to see for yourself. When you make it to the mat make the most of it. Try and find improvements to keep you going during the dark times. Even when you feel like nothing you do is working. You might still be getting tapped by that higher belt, but is the number less than before? Are you able to pull off some of the techniques you’ve been drilling in a live roll? Acknowledging each of these small things allows you to know that you are progressing. Maybe not with some big stuff or at the pace you want. But forward is still good and makes it hard for frustration to sneak it’s way in.

Give good feedback.
How many times have you been in a roll and your partner has been a real challenge. They have pulled stuff out that you have not seen them play before and it’s really put you on the back foot? Acknowledging this and letting your partner know that the new stuff was hard, can be a positive for you too. Vocalising how good your partner was, allows you to look at the positive side of the roll. Not look at the negative of you thinking how bad you were, which is a sure fire way to start feeling frustrated. This may also prompt then to point out the parts of your game they found hard too.

Ask the right question.
This kind of ties in with the previous points. When situations do not go our way, it is easy to see the negative our brains are wired to focus on the negative! This just throws fuel on the fire of your frustration. Try breaking down what happened. Try and remember the point it all went wrong. Was it your technique, if so which bit did you do wrong? Or did your partner use a technique you’ve never seen before? Then it’s not your guard wasn’t good enough, but you have a to learn a new defence.

This gives you a focus for those times you can’t get to the academy. Some technique research. By asking yourself the question “What can I take from this and how can it help my BJJ?” allows you to zoom in on answering the question and not the negatives of the situation.

Reward yourself.
If you haven’t made it on the mats for a long time, then consider a jiu jitsu focused reward. Put the money you are saving on petrol or mat fees in a jar. Once real life calms down as it always eventually does, give yourself a jiu jitsu reward. Book in a private with your coach. Catch up on the stuff you have missed. Get some advice on the You Tube techniques you’ve been watching. Give yourself a chance to re-discover why you enjoy BJJ.

Alternatively blow it all on a brand new gi. I did a review of a great option. Either one is a legitimate option for beating your frustration with BJJ.

Train regularly.
Plan your training. This might sound like torture, but focussing on a positive can help. Once you can make it back, commit to training regularly. It sounds simple but, getting on the mat consistently is important. After a bit of a lay off the first few weeks back can feel like hard work. Everything hurts again or your techniques is less sharp. You need to stay strong and get past this stage. Consistent mat time allow you to work and issue and the opportunities to have little wins. All those things that help overcome frustration. It’s like complaining about never winning the lotto, even though you never buy a ticket. You have to seek out opportunities for success more than avoiding the issues that cause frustration. The more chances you give yourself, the more likely you are to achieve our BJJ goals.

Deal with it.

Frustration is something that comes for us all at one time or another and I have suffered from it a lot in the last year or so. Not only can it affect your training, but it impacts your none BJJ life too. That’s why a few little tricks for beating your frustration with BJJ, can makes everything a lot easier.

]]>http://oldmunki.com/beating-frustration-bjj/feed/02319Grips Armadura Reviewhttp://oldmunki.com/grips-armadura-review/
http://oldmunki.com/grips-armadura-review/#respondTue, 09 Jan 2018 13:32:23 +0000http://oldmunki.com/?p=2284 If you have any Christmas money still available you might be looking to get yourself a new gi. Here is my experience with the latest Grips gi. Grips are not as well know as some of the bigger brands but they have consistently produced quality gis. They are an Italian company and point out… Read more

If you have any Christmas money still available you might be looking to get yourself a new gi. Here is my experience with the latest Grips gi. Grips are not as well know as some of the bigger brands but they have consistently produced quality gis. They are an Italian company and point out that their gis are designed in Italy. When I saw the the Grips Armadura it was a gi that I had to have. It comes in white, blue and black. This Grips Armadura review is of the white version, as I was buying it and I like white gis.

Grips Armadura Review

I currently have a Grips Secret Weapon, which for an A3 fits me really well. It is a gi I wear regularly, especially for competition class. It is a lightweight gi that has held up to some serious punishment over the few years I have had it. When I saw that Grips had brought out the Armadura I had high hopes for this new gi. Here is my Grips Armadura review.

Armadura is Spanish for armour. It seems the theme of the Armadura is “feel the fear and do it anyway”. Those of you that follow my social media will know I like a good inspirational quote. So this branding definitely appealed to me.

Measurements

Out of the bag

After 3 washes

Wingspan (A)

68.5 ins

67 ins

Body Length (B)

32 ins

32 ins

Sleeve Length (C)

21.5 ins

20.5ins

Cuff Width (D)

7 ins

7 ins

Outside Leg (E)

40 ins

39 ins

Leg Cuff (F)

8 ins

8 ins

Inside Leg (G)

30 ins

29 ins

The Pants

The pants are made from rip stop cotton, which is my preferred fabric. Another little touch I like is that instead of the normal belt loops, they have created a little rope “holder”. Once you have tied your pants, this is a great place to tuck those big loops. I assume this helps with the rope staying tied. But also helps stop toes getting caught in the loops. Yes this has happen to me more than once.

They have also continued to use the foam string that doesn’t fray. I do prefer the foam, as it seems to grip better. It’s always a massive pain when you have to keep stopping to tie your pants up. This is also covered in branded fabric, that matches the seam tape.

There is also a nice patch on the leg that continues the alligator and inspirational quote theme. Textured to resemble alligator skin it is a nice touch, that also keeps the pants light. Also the stitching on the re-enforced knee area is meant to carry along the armour theme too.

The knee areas inside the pants are lined with a plain white version of the fabric that lines the jacket. When you look at the pants, it seems that the knee lining will not actually cover the knees when knelt down.

The jacket

The jacket is a standard pearl weave fabric. The sleeves of the have some unique stitching on them. This supports the “armour” branding of the gi. It does however mean that the sleeves are two pieces. This seemed a little odd at first, as I had never seen another gi do this. But it causes no discomfort or issues with movement. However with the reinforced stitching on the seams, it is doubtful it will create a failure point. Their website does say that this gi is IBJJF compliant, so this design feature still leave it competition legal.

There is also a small “feel the fear” alligator patch on the bottom of the lapel.
The positioning of the lined areas is good (shoulders and side vents). This feature is carried over from previous gis. However on the Armadura the lining has sublimated printing to look a little like alligator skin and the logo and the quote are quite prominent on the side lining.
There are reinforcement patches in the armpits and side vents.
The collar and lapels are cover in rip stop material. Armadura is embroidered on the left chest down the side of the lapel.

Rolling

I have had a few comments as to how nice this gi looks. I have trained in this a number of times with no issues. It has been comfortable to train in with no fabric of stitching fails. The pants feel really light weight and easy to move in. The gi is pre shrunk so I was not expecting much shrinkage at all. This has been shown by the measurements after a few washes. Despite it being an A3 and me being lean for my height (6 feet 3 inches and 86 kg/190lbs), it fits great. The wingspan and length are fit just how I like. Even with the slight additional shrinkage it still is competition legal on me.

Conclusion

In my opinion this a great looking gi. I do like all the little branding points. Along with the lining and the stitching it makes me feel that they have really thought about the way the gi is put together. Not only to look good, but to make it good feel good for the wearer.

This is a premium gi and is priced accordingly. I paid £129.99 from Made4Fighters with free shipping in the UK. Made4Fighters also do international shipping. if you wanted to get it now. You can also buy it direct from the Gr1ps website in Europe it is also available on the Gr1ps USA website. If you like black gis I would definitely have a look at the black version, with gold stitching.

]]>http://oldmunki.com/grips-armadura-review/feed/02284Longevity in your BJJhttp://oldmunki.com/longevity-in-your-bjj/
http://oldmunki.com/longevity-in-your-bjj/#commentsTue, 12 Dec 2017 13:19:18 +0000http://oldmunki.com/?p=1821Training Brazilian jiu jitsu is something that most of us want to be able to do for the rest of our lives. Whether you started young or later in life, the goal is still to be like Helio and Carlos and train well into old age. But as you get older consciously adapting your jiu… Read more

]]>Training Brazilian jiu jitsu is something that most of us want to be able to do for the rest of our lives. Whether you started young or later in life, the goal is still to be like Helio and Carlos and train well into old age. But as you get older consciously adapting your jiu jitsu and training to achieve this longevity in your BJJ is key.

Consider your training intensity
When training you should consider how intense your training was. Training has an effect on your body, especially your nervous system. All the quick reactions and physical movements do impact on your body and mind. If you are in your twenties or younger, you will recover pretty quickly. However as you age you need look at the intensity of each of your training days.

Since the goal is longevity your bjj, not every day needs to be hard training. Ideally alternating the hard training days with more relaxed drilling or technical days, will help. But realistically we all love rolling. So pick your partners. If it is a hard day, go with the higher belts and the athletic youngsters. You will know who will give you this challenge. On the easier days, pick the lower belts or the guys around your age. This will give you a chance to reduce the intensity and practise your new stuff. Understanding and recognising how your body feels will keep you on the mat.

Leave your ego at home
Injuries can happen in any contact sport, but an injury from not tapping is not an accident. We all get caught in submissions and yes you may want to challenge yourself to get out of it. But if a technique is on you know it, so don’t let your ego get in the way. Tap before it hurts, not after. The more you tap, the more you learn. You may not like tapping to a lower belt, but that tap costs me nothing. A popped elbow or a torn shoulder does. Having fun and making it to training each day is the goal. By not tapping soon enough you just force yourself in to having to take weeks off training. Plus as you get older recovering from injuries does take longer and that’s even more infuriating.

Work on your mobility and recovery
Most of us are going to have jobs that have some impact on our bodies, in one way or another. Mobility and recovery take work, just like your jiu jitsu to make them effective. Mobility work helps your body recover from the impacts of training and life. Assisting the longevity in your bjj. This is not only with the stresses of jiu jitsu, but sitting at a desk all day or driving for long periods. You should try and work as much as possible to improve your range of motion. A recent study here, found that mobility and stretching helps with your bodies recovery as well. Finding a routine that you can do either at home or before/after training will go a long way in helping your body cope.

Have a healthy diet that works for you
The bottom line on all diets is the focus should be on real food. Find the foods and a way of eating that suits you and you can maintain. Whether this is vegan, vegetarian or paleo, as long as it keeps you energised and feeling good that is what matters. Throw in plenty of water to stay hydrated too. Also remember to let loose once in a while, by strictly denying yourself something will only make you obsess over it more. Plus life is too short not to be naughty every now and again. Individual ways of eating may vary when it comes to nutrient timing ratios, but the concepts behind good nutrition are all the same.

In reality the longer you train, the more adjustments you will have to make to your training intensity, lifestyle, and nutrition. But if you are smart with your training, you will be able to stay on the mats for many years to come

]]>http://oldmunki.com/longevity-in-your-bjj/feed/21821Back to the beginninghttp://oldmunki.com/back-to-the-beginning/
http://oldmunki.com/back-to-the-beginning/#respondTue, 14 Nov 2017 13:40:46 +0000http://oldmunki.com/?p=2277Starting anything as a beginner is hard work. Whether it’s physical activity like BJJ or even something like a new job. It’s hard work and takes effort. But then what comes after can be even worse, becoming comfortable! That’s why I’m going back to the beginning. Back to the beginning I was recently promoted to… Read more

]]>Starting anything as a beginner is hard work. Whether it’s physical activity like BJJ or even something like a new job. It’s hard work and takes effort. But then what comes after can be even worse, becoming comfortable! That’s why I’m going back to the beginning.

Back to the beginning

I was recently promoted to a purple belt. It was a bit of a surprise to be honest. But it has made me realise that I really need to focus on my learning. I have won a few IBJJF medals and I do good when rolling. So what I can do has gotten me this far. But being able to “do” a technique is not enough. I am starting to realise that understanding is more important. To do that you need to do some data gathering, around limitations and application. Building an a knowledge of what makes the technique work. Up till know I have been able to use my weight and size to make a technique work. I now want to not have to rely on those and that means really learning some stuff.

It’s not just me.

I have been reading a book called Bounce . There is a part of the book that really echoes with my current situation. There is a section on Accelerated Learning, where it refers to a study on elite skaters. The study found that there is a major difference between the elite and the less elite athletes. But it wasn’t genetic, personality or family background, it was the type of practise they did. Elite skaters regularly attempted jumps beyond their current capabilities, less elite skaters didn’t. This is described as purposeful practise. One really strong statement in this section is “Progress is built, in effect, upon the foundations of necessary failure”.

Who likes discomfort?

This means focusing on learning and doing it properly. Going back to the beginning. Just like when I was a beginner trying everything out. But this time concentrating on what I am doing during each round. Also setting myself targets fro each roll. But during most rolls there isn’t much time to think. So what I have been experiencing is getting passed more and as a consequence tapped. But going backwards to go forwards is worth the pain and ego battering. I am also hoping that this time I can improve quicker, so I don’t go through it for too long.

To finish here is another great quote from “Bounce”. It is about a japanese figure skater called Shizuka Arakawa. It was estimated that from her progression from a five year old wannabe to the 2006 Olympic Champion she tumbled over 20,000 times. As the book puts it “Landing on your butt twenty thousand times is where great performance comes from”.

]]>http://oldmunki.com/back-to-the-beginning/feed/02277Compression Travel Bag Reviewhttp://oldmunki.com/compression-travel-bag/
http://oldmunki.com/compression-travel-bag/#respondWed, 23 Aug 2017 13:59:00 +0000http://oldmunki.com/?p=2270I’m heading off to the World Master shortly (lucky me). When travelling space in your cases can be at a premium. Especially if you are just taking carry on luggage. One thing I’ve discovered recently are compression travel bags. I’ve had two of them for a while now. I thought I would give you guys… Read more

]]>I’m heading off to the World Master shortly (lucky me). When travelling space in your cases can be at a premium. Especially if you are just taking carry on luggage. One thing I’ve discovered recently are compression travel bags. I’ve had two of them for a while now. I thought I would give you guys a steer on these things. So here’s my comparison of the BJJ Globetrotters compression travel bag and the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Cube.

What is a compression travel bag?

It is a small bag that has a double zipper on it. This allows you to securely pack your clothes in it. You can then squeeze it as flat as possible and use the second zipper to keep it compressed. This means that your clothes will take up less space in your case.

Why pick these two?

The Eagle Creek seemed to get good reviews on Amazon and was reasonably priced. So it looked like a good option to start with. The BJJ Globetrotters I bought because it was specifically designed to hold a BJJ gi or two.

The Look

Eagle Creek

When it arrived I was a little concerned as the material is very lightweight. You can pretty much see through it. I instantly thought I was going to rip it when using it. However is it a rip stop material and meant to be sturdy. I assured myself it would be fine and the lightness would actually be beneficial. Plus it was a cool green colour.

BJJ Globetrotters

This instantly felt much more sturdy. The material is still rip stop but a little thicker than the Eagle Creek. I had a lot more confidence this would put up the abuse I would put it through.

Conclusion

I do a fair bit of travelling to compete and gis can take up a lot of space. Especially if you are only taking carry on luggage. So I do think these compression organisers are extremely useful.

The Eagle Creek Packing Organiser,

It is surprisingly sturdy despite its lightweight appearance. It is slightly smaller than the BJJ Globetrotters’ bag and therefore does not hold quite as much. The gi I get into it is one of the lightest gis I have. You can tell the difference from the GSM numbers. (Just in case GSM means if you take precisely one square meter of the material, ball it up and put it on a scale, the number should be whatever the GSM is indicated as being- a 420 GSM fabric will be 550 grams per square meter) So the size of gi that will fit and compress is smaller. Plus the compression is a little more difficult with this one, as the zippers are a little more awkward. If you are a smaller person gi wise, or if you are just packing general clothes this would work great. It is able to compress T Shirts, underwear and the like no problem. But then again that is what it is actually designed for.

The BJJ Globetrotter bag

On the other hand has obviously been designed with the BJJ traveller in mind. The construction is much sturdy. You can just tell it was designed to have to squish down a gi. Plus it can hold some clothes too. So with a couple of these you would probably have most of your packing done for any BJJ trip.

Both bags have a handy loop on them if you wanted to hang the bag up or pull it out of a tightly packed bag.

My preference would be the BJJ Globetrotters’ bag. For the extra minor cost you seem to get more for your money and I’m all about that. Even if you’re not going to put a gi in it, the stronger construction gives me more confidence that I’ll get a lot more use out of it. If you are interested in either of the items you can find them at the links below.